North-West Thunder sweep capital road trip

Coach Sam Armstrong says it was mission accomplished for the North-West Tall Timbers Thunder after securing a valuable road-trip double and extending their winning streak to three games on Saturday.

Sam Armstrong

Speaking after the 79-62 victory over Canberra, Armstrong admitted that result and the 90-73 win over the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence on Friday night were tougher than the scoreboard suggested.

“We were good in patches, and we were able to do enough to win,’’ he said.

“When both games were on the line, we were able to take care of business, so that was pleasing.

“Any time you can go away on the road and get wins is a good thing, and as a confidence booster to go away to two different environments and win, that is very hard to do, no matter who your opposition is.

“To get a double on the road the first games after the week off, that is just a real good stepping stone for this group.”

It was a thorough team effort against the Gunners, with Chudier Pal and Jeremiah Ingram (14 points each) leading five scorers in double figures, and all eight players getting on the scoresheet.

The Thunder built a seven-point break by half time, but set up the win with a strong third quarter that saw them outscore the home side 22-14 and build a 15-point buffer at the final change.

Canberra mounted a comeback at the start of the last quarter, scoring the first six points, but after a time out from coach Sam Armstrong, the visitors regrouped, scoring the next six points to re-establish their lead.

From there the Thunder were never threatened and continually found a way through the Gunners’ full-court press to score easy baskets.

The Thunder return home with a 7-8 record and will prepare for a clash with Albury Wodonga at Ulverstone on Saturday night, with Armstrong confident these two wins would hold them in good stead for that encounter.